In a surprising turn of events at the US Grand Prix, Max Verstappen was met with boos from fans as he took to the podium, despite his impressive performance and the pressure he faced during the race. This was Verstappen’s 50th win, a milestone achievement that he had to earn.
Unlike his dominant victories in other races this season, Verstappen started from sixth and struggled with brake issues from the first lap. He had strong competition from Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes and a resurgent Lando Norris in a McLaren. It was a tight race, with Verstappen finishing only two seconds ahead of Hamilton, and Norris securing third place.
However, post-race, the FIA discovered that both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc from Ferrari had failed the plank wear inspection on their cars. As a result, they were disqualified, and Norris was promoted to second place. Carlos Sainz claimed third, while Sergio Perez moved up to fourth, extending his lead over Hamilton in the drivers’ championship.
The disqualification was a disappointing blow for Hamilton and Mercedes, but Hamilton expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance overall. Verstappen acknowledged the difficulty of the race due to his brake issues, and he vented his frustration at his car mid-race.
To challenge Verstappen, both Mercedes and McLaren utilized alternative pit strategies, recognizing that they could not match his pace on raw speed alone. Mercedes took a gamble by keeping Hamilton out longer during the first pit stops, which ultimately didn’t pay off. However, it showcased their boldness and led to an intense finish as Hamilton closed in on Verstappen.
Mercedes had introduced a major floor upgrade for the race, which Hamilton found to be highly impressive. Norris and McLaren, on the other hand, showcased their remarkable turnaround as a team. They had initially struggled at the beginning of the season while Aston Martin performed well, but two significant upgrades propelled them forward. With their performance at the US Grand Prix, McLaren now holds a seven-point lead over Aston in the constructors’ championship.
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